York mum told she was close to death opens Pilates studio after remarkable recovery

Amber Burnip, 33, was told she would not survive without major invasive surgery to remove her colon in May 2025 (Image: Supplied)

A YORK woman has transformed her life after being told she was close to death with a chronic condition.

Amber Burnip, 33, was told she would not survive without major invasive surgery to remove her colon in May 2025.

The mum-of-one spent 91 days in York Hospital, requiring blood transfusions and intense treatment after receiving an ileostomy (stoma bag) to combat ulcerative colitis - a chronic bowel condition she had been diagnosed with in 2017.

She said: "I became so weak. I was unable to lift my own head and lost 20kg in weight.

"I was nine stone to begin with, so this was a rapid change."

Amber said she lost her hair and strength following her major surgery and its complications last year (Image: Supplied)

Following Amber's discharge from hospital, she spent close to a month in a wheelchair, relying on her husband and her family to care for her and her one-year-old son Jacques.

She said: "I needed carrying up and down the stairs.

"I lost all of my hair and strength. I couldn't even lift a kettle, never mind carry or take care of my son."

In the months that followed Amber said she regained her strength through Pilates - an exercise she cites for its life-changing mind-body transformation.

"Staying strong is crucial to prevent me developing hernias" (Image: Supplied)

She said: "I had done Pilates for a few years, so I understood the benefits. But I needed a safe and low-impact way of regaining my strength so that I could go on living my life.

"I took a course to really understand the fundamentals of Pilates so that I could learn more about the body and how to take care of it."

She added: "Living with a stoma means I have a permanent hole in my abdominal wall.

"Staying strong is crucial to prevent me developing hernias."

"I had done Pilates for a few years, so I understood the benefits. But I needed a safe and low-impact way of regaining my strength so that I could go on living my life" (Image: Supplied)

Amber said she wanted to use the knowledge she gained from Pilates to help others.

She said: "I completed my course less than a year after my surgery and have been teaching in York studios since May this year.

"I've kitted out a home studio in Fulford, so I'm able to offer 1:1 reformer and mat Pilates sessions."

Amber has transformed her life by learning about the fundamental of Pilates (Image: Supplied)

She added: "These are tailored to everyone, whether you are new to Pilates, recovering from injury, or just looking for a more tailored approach.

"Unfortunately, my stoma is permanent so I’ll always have to live my life differently.

"Adapting to it has been huge, but having this focus on movement and helping others has been a saving grace for me.